Session 6 - Circle of Stars

VOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3LgpwxRhZk
Tavern Therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnSZefMrwi0
Previous Inspiration Awarded: Yaros Loubert for having good one on one scenes and uniting players in the party.

Tuesday, March 25th, 765

The Investigator S.Q.U.A.D. wake up and are excited for their day ahead and finalize their plans.
First Yaros Loubert, Brand, Kriss Keeton, and Veiyanitara Lero head to Riverfront for arts and crafts. While there they are greeted by a rather dishelveed man named Caleb Kramer owner of Underwater Basketweavers. He helps Vei and Yaros make some stained glass wind chimes. He also helps brand make a simple trap, and KK a red candle They all successfully craft their wares then question the store owner about his path in life spending years learning to become an underwater basketweaver and opening a store after he informs them that she store is doing very poorly. Brand states he will be back if the owner can learn more about traps.
Scarlet and Tatho head over to Crystal Yard where they meet with Jack Olmec a middle aged tortle who runs Jackwares Hardware Store for the 'Building Birdhouses' event. But once Jack finds out they are there without any kids he gets excited and pulls out his Low Magic Crystals powered tools, and by Scarlet's request they create a massively overengineered mansion for Maisy.
Everyone then heads to Sliders & Sausages for lunch and once again see the parade for the Blackiron Bandits.
That evening KK and Tatho head to The Heights to see what is going on with the charity arts and crafts event there. They are quickly approached by a nicely dressed gnome lady who informs them of the event and they both give a charitable donation. KK asks to speak with the person running the event where they are brought to the very elaborate Marsh Hope for Kids Charity Building and talk to Thelma Fitzsimmons. She explains to them how the charity works and why people donate along with the organization it takes to run the event. They thank her for her time and head out.
During this time Yaros & Vei go to Ship Sailing, Brand goes to How to Grow a Goodberry, and Scarlet goes to How to Train a Pet. However due to real life out of game circumstances, these events will take place in Session 7 - .
That evening everyone arrives back at Fort Marshope and decides to do a few things. Yaros goes on a walk, Tatho reads his elementary books, and Vei reads her Red Bear Comics. Brand and Scarlet head north of Fort Marshop into the swamps to lay down the trap he made earlier in Riverfront. KK goes to make a visit with her Aunt who runs the Gator & Crane Bed & Breakfast. She dotes her with love and is excited to see that she had made it out of prison. She said if she needed anything to drop by, and KK gave her the candle as a gift. In response, her aunt gave her a large extravagant candle that had a base of red gemstones. They hugged and KK headed back into the Fort.

Friday, March 26th, 765

Woken up once again by the 12 gun salute and head onto their morning activities. First KK headed towards Bloom Wharf where she met with a halfling named Perfire Windvale, owner of Fharlaghn Cartographers. The place seemed to be in disarray as he explains most of his staff is out doing work for the The Military of The United Shard and they are super short-staffed at the moment. Though he gives her a basic compass and goes about teaching her the basics of orienteering and how to create a map.
Yaros and Tatho head towards Heroes & Heralds in Crystal Yard. They go into the large colosseum and watch the performance. It begins with a group of riders on chariots circling the arena and a young earth genasi in the back blowing on a war horn. And through the performance they see a female tabaxi throw javelins and a male lizardfolk shoot arrows with incredible precision. There is a dwarf in full plate mail that seems to be able to withstand and block any attack. There is a Goliath who wields a great sword that displays great strength. Finally there is a dark elf who has great swiftness and dexterity with her rapier. Blown away by the performance Yaros and Tatho talk about dreaming to join these guys one day.
During this time Brand goes to Native Flora and Vei & Scarlet go to a Display of Magics. However due to real-life out of game circumstances, these events will take place in Session 7 - .
For lunch that day everyone meets up at the Bloom Wharf Meat Markets where they buy a bag of oysters and shuck them while hanging over the docks enjoying the day.
That evening Yaros, Vei, Scarlet, & Tatho all go get dressed into the military attire and head to the Symphony Concert at the Sunrise Theater. Yaros seems especially eager to get there as he wants to get a good seat to try and see someone. The concert is beautiful and brings many people in the audience to tears as they perform works by and conducted by Fabiano Vitulli. Though during this time Yaros did not find whom he was looking for.
While that was happening Brand & KK went to Ralishaz for half-priced tables. While heading there Brand announces that he has a way to win, and pulls out a vial with a beetle that will bite him and tell him how he needs to bet to win. This is completely and utterly ineffective. They gamble through the night on three different games, mostly losing, but hitting a jackpot once.
They head back to Fort Marshop to all meetup and in a bit of convincing get everyone to head out to Bloom Street for the last night of the festival. The usual debauchery is going on there with beads being thrown and bits being shown. The Bloom Street Queen is being hoisted up and down the street. Scarlet brings everyone to In Clear Spirits where there are mostly females present and drunk. Throughout this night everyone gets rather drunk except Brand Yaros and Tatho. Yaros manages to leave undetected and heads back to the fort. Tatho gets hit on by one first, then many women as they notice his strong physique. Put off he tries to put them down, but Scarlet only worsens the scenario for him. Brand tries to find a quiet corner to drink but is subsequently also hit on by an older lady, even after Brand tells her he is a widow. Vei Scarlet and KK dance most of the evening.
After this, they head back to the fort when Brand mentions he has to check his traps, which Vei and Scarlet decide to tag along for. While heavily intoxicated Vei mentions that she is incredibly stressed. Scarlet asks why where Vei lists a combination of the military, her family, and finally drops mention of a prophecy. Scarlet gives support until they are both weeping with drunk emotions. Meanwhile, Brand gets his frog from his trap and asks vei to expound. She then tells them what she knows about Vei's Prophecy . They head back to the fort and pass out.

Saturday, March 27th, 756

Investigator S.Q.U.A.D. are awoken by a loud banging at the door that rattles through their hangover. Confused at first, they thought because the Red Bloom Festival is over there shouldn't be any more 12 gun salutes, they eventually realize it's someone at the door. Upon answering they find that it is General John Harper. He lets them know that the Frontiersmen will be pulling the resources of S.Q.U.A.D. in helping return the city back after the Red Bloom Festival. Today they will be working with and guarding the railroads for the safe return of visitors and a large number of courier letters. They report to the Eastglades train station that morning and carry out their duties. The work is rather routine and mundane and they work late into the evening and return to their quarters at Fort Marshop.

Sunday, March 28th, 765

Investigator S.Q.U.A.D. is one again awoken by General John Harper knocking at their door. Today he informs them that they will be working at Bloom Wharf to help with whatever they need to get the docks back in working order as fast as possible. Things were shut down for the festival, but they need to get back to importing and exporting pronto. They head over there and work the entire days loading and unloading ships, fixing parts of the docks and ships, manning ropes, and more. They head back to Fort Marshop late that evening exhausted.

Monday, March 29th, 765

Exhausted from the work over the weekend, Investigator S.Q.U.A.D. sleep in that morning and eventually arise and decide to follow through with their tip from the The Resturant Cooperative to talk to The Alcohol Brotherhood today while they take time off. They head to Divetonk Saloon whereupon arrival they see a sign on the door that says "Closed for the day, will return soon." They still choose to knock when they hear a voice from beyond the door yell "Aye can't you read? Were closed. Damn tourists.". They eventually just walk in and introduce themselves as being sent here by the Restaurant Cooperative. They show their coins to prove themselves, and some of the bartenders even recognize them from their visits during the Red Bloom Festival and give them a favorable recommendation. The group tells them that they are there to help with whatever they need when the red Dragonborn who runs the brewery shouts that they need some damn wormwood. When they ask about it the brotherhood lets them know that it is their tradition every year to take off the week after the Red Bloom Festival to restock after selling out (especially with the orders that the Brotherhood of Fighting Spirits place) and brew some special brew to enjoy the time off. However, the plant they use to ferment, wormwood, is exceedingly rare and only located deep in the swamps. Their usual way of getting it isn't available now since the archdruid of Obad-Hai Arboretum has forbidden any of his young druids to go in with the talks of the Rougarou's about and says that he and other higher-level druids are far too busy. So they've been looking for someone brave and dumb enough to take their place. The group lets the brotherhood know that they are willing to help out if they can just talk to them afterward, and everyone agrees. When Scarlet asks if they have anything to prove that they have gotten the brotherhoods blessing, Lucas Browngrog, the owner of Divetonk Saloon pulls out some bottle openers with "Alcohol Brotherhood" etched in the back and hands them out and says that will suffice.
The Investigator S.Q.U.A.D. then heads to Obad-Hai Arboretum and meet with a young male water genasi named Liqtas Terralos. The group then tells him that they are the ones chosen to get the wormwood and prove this with their bottle openers. The genasi lets them know that he has been the one in the last few years to get the wormwood, but has been forbidden by the archdruid this year. He lets them know that the plant is exceedingly rare. Originally it was very popular with the The Outside Powers and brought here, but as it is not native it was incredibly hard to cultivate. After all their trying there are only a few spots where they got it to take root and must take care to only harvest what they can to keep it alive, as it is rumored to have medicinal properties that would have it overharvested and perish. Everyone agrees to do the best for the plant and Liqtas gives them very detailed instructions on how to reach the plant and how to harvest.
The party head deep into the Eastglades but with Vei's knowledge of the druidic ways of navigating, and KK's newfound map skill, along with the instructions from Liqtas they are able to find their way directly to the plant they need. They harvest the plant and begin to head back. They quickly notice that the wind is picking up and begins whistling through the canopy of trees around them. Soon they hear a voice in all of their heads simultaneously that says "It is not often I get visitors dis deep into dah swamp". The party frantically looks around until apparating out of nowhere are two creatures.
The one in the rear is massive and seemingly formless, entirely made of plant matter. There seems to be some structure within made from sturdy wood branches, but it changes as you look at it. In fact, the entire thing seems to be in a constant cycle. The branches within grow and give foliage, moss grows along, mushrooms grow at the base, but soon that new growth begins to decay, and as it dies it seems to be absorbed back into the creature, in an endless cycle of growth and decay, a cycle of rebirth.
The creature that stands in front is also unlike anything they have ever seen, but much more grounded to things they have. It appears to be a woman, pale light blue skin that appears to show no wrinkles, yet she carries herself as if she has aged a millennium. On her head are two horns that curl around the side, and she has a long spindly barbed tail. This is a creature that is unlike any they have ever seen, and almost a chimera of sorts. Horns of a dragonborn, skin of a genasi, tail of a beast. As they make eye contact she seems to look almost through them, not making direct eye contact.
The party says they're not trying to cause any problems and want to go out quickly, but she ignores them staring vacantly into the sky, then interrupts them saying "Ah, I see you have followed the path, despite the deceptions of the moon. They have been chosen once again. You are the circle of stars as it has been foretold." The party stands around confused when eventually she makes eye contact with each of them and points.
First, she points at Brand and says "You, ally of my chosen, you are Hurt and Alone. Bitter and angry. You have seen love and loss. You seek to attempt to cure a disease, yet I know you never will. But I promise you this, You will find the truth, the truth of this sickness cast from the stars. But first, you must figure out your own place in this circle. Do not yet fix a Populus, instead, enhance your circle. Give them the gifts you can no longer give to those you have lost."
She then sends out a magical hand that touches the jug he received by the bartender back in The Shadowed Canyons, out of it begins to flow gallons and gallons of water. At that moment it feels like Brand's mind opens wide, and he get hit with massive waves of inspiration. It occurs to him that a lot of what you’ve studied and tried to apply to people, with the right energy source and engineering could be used on objects, or potions, which then could be applied to people, in a way that never really occurred to him before. His mind floods with countless ideas, and it almost becomes hard to focus.
Next, she points to Tatho and begins speaking. "You have been chosen. Warrior born on earth to rise to the night sky. Strong, yet selfless. Unrelenting, yet benevolent. You will find your strength, but you cannot ford this alone. Look to others as your pride one had, and rise to the last fight. You are capable of more than even you believe. When you and your circle are in most dire needs, push past all barriers, and channel your inner spirit, and unleash"
With the same magical hand, she pushes into Tatho's chest. It feels like the wind gets knocked out of him and all the energy gets sapped from his body, but in that same instant by sheer willpower, he still manages to stand long enough to catch his breath and have his normal energy return. He is stunned for a moment, but has the thought, Muscles and strength are important, but the will to fight and push beyond is just as important.
She next points to Scarlet and says "You are a child of my chosen people, and yet you are also one in a line chosen of the stars. Truly one drop in a countless sea. Yet in that sea, you are drowning in chaos. You will find your own self and channel the great sea of stars to your bidding. Do not be afraid, become it. Let it flow through you as you become one and bend it to your will."
She waves her hand and summons motes of light that look like stars shimmering in the night's sky. She then blows them over to Scarlet, and when they reach her chest it enters her body and gives a soft glow. She is quickly overwhelmed by the sensation of magic. It is exactly the feeling she got, when she was 10 years old, playing with those other children, and that thought puts her in an uncontrollable panic attack, as she gets when she is about to wild surge. The woman screams with an impossibly loud booming voice “DO NOT BE AFRAID” which shakes her out of the panic. While she is usually in that panic she tries to shut off all the stimulus around you, this time, however, she can feel the sea of magic that it comes from. And she realizes that this is where your magic comes from.
After this, she points to Kriss and says "you are also one of my great chosen bloodlines. You have lived a life in the dark. Wise. Yet you have shed all light, you must instead reflect the light of those in your circles, as the brilliant ruby does. Guide your circle and pierce the veil with your red light."
Kriss then begins to feel a sensation from an inside pocket, and she then recognizes that it's her ruby. Normally when she looks at it, and it refracts the light around it, but in this instance, it’s glowing on its own. She looks into it, and looks deeper, and looks deeper, as in a trace but the longer she looks at it the more she sees. To everyone here, what happens next happens in an instant, and they only see KK looking into this ruby, but to KK what happens next feels like an eternity. In the center of her vision is a bright red light that guides her even further and deeper, and as she advances she begins to see individuals lining the periphery. And she realizes these are people she knows. Her aunt, her ex, her old caretakers, friends growing up. But as she continues she reaches a black veil that's like a barrier, she has apprehension, but she is already too deep and the light pulls her through this black veil, and as she crosses it, she herself begins to glow that red light. She feels it coursing through her. It’s magic. It feels divine, but it is distinctly not the loving brace of Pelor. She looks around now having crossed the black veil, and she still sees people here, but these are not people she knows, these are people she did know. She sees previous allies slain in a job gone wrong, elders from her town growing up who have passed away, she sees a childhood friend who drowned in an accident, it’s all bizarre and for just a fraction of a second she disassociates from what is happening, and she is ripped back out of the veil at Mach speed backward the way you came until she enters her own body again. She's shell-shocked for a moment, but once she comes to her senses, she still feels the faintest of energy within herself, as if she were still glowing red.
The woman next looks at Yaros and points. "You are a child of the stars, as your father and his father were before his. Yet you bear, my curse. Your forefather crossed me, but your blood has been repenting to the stars since. Transform, but at your own peace now, I forgive you."
As she says this Yaros's blood begins to boil like it did the other night, then it quickly goes cold. He feels a sense of peace, and he thinks back to his dad back at the homestead, and how he mentioned the necklace you wear is an old family heirloom, and the adventures they all went on. He thinks about how his bloodline is different, and this woman has proved it. He feels now that you can tap into that strength of his bloodline.
Finally, the woman looks at Vei and says "I know who you are, yet you do not know who you are. When the land circles the sun a great blue light cast away from the stars will come to be. You and your circle must dim the light to darkness."
Vei beings to rapidly question everything in a flurry of words, but the woman ignores them. She instead takes a moment then says "I believe the time has come for me to return this to you.", and pulls out a floating magical device seemingly full of starlight and it begins to float towards Vei. Vei then puts her hand out when it quickly moves to her grasp and she instantly goes limp passing out.
The woman then says “This circle has much to do before we speak again. I hope you do not die before the fateful day. I will be keeping an eye on you.” She then puts her hand out, and a bug from the swamplands on her palm. She looks at it for a second then quickly crushes it. they then see her open her hand and throws her arm out, and out of it flies a 7-foot humanoid bug with a 15-foot wingspan. It is black like the night and seems to have a more avian-like body, with wings like a bat. Its head is that of an insect, and the most jarring thing is its two large red eyes that seem to glow. Without even noticing any of the party it flies straight up over the canopy of the trees of the swamp until its out of eyeshot.
She then turns around, and the formless plant creatures begin to take root into the ground below it and then in a moment grows into a massive magnolia tree that blossoms and the blue-skinned woman with one hand out walks directly into the tree, and disappears.
The party begins to freak out and try to attend to Vei. They notice that she's alive but her vitals are weak. They all move to carry her and bring her to the medical wing of the fort.
Meanwhile, Vei is now in the unconscious world at this point she is familiar with. It is where she goes when she sleeps and attempts to communicate with her Quori. Normally things here are obscured with a fog so thick, she cannot peer through. When she first was awoken to her Quori she often tried to peer through the fog, to go as deep as she could to see or hear anything, and nothing ever came, she could hear the whispers of whispers so feint it hurt to try to discern. Often in exhaustion while in this realm she simply just meditated and wish to wake. That was until her fateful vision, while in the fog she for the first time heard something clearly. Those fateful words of “When the land circles the sun a great blue light cast away from the stars will come to be. You and your circle must dim the light to darkness.” There were no lights, there was no form, just those words.
Today after touching that item and being completely knocked unconscious, everything is different. The normally still and thick fog is now whipping with hurricane-force winds. It hurts her being, and she finds herself in this existence hard to keep her form. But while standing she realizes that this force is rotating, there is a definite direction in which the winds get stronger and a direction where the winds die off, and you know where the epicenter is.
She decides to head towards the center. She pushes through and the winds get faster, a torrent of lights, sounds, and etherealness whip not just past, but through her. Her existence is being torn apart, and what she knows to be her 'self', is being ripped apart and she slowly feels herself becoming formless. That is until she takes the one last step, and all is still.
She is able to reconstruct her 'self' into its form and she is now Vei in her entirety. She sees in this small vacuum of space, located directly in the center is the object she had touched, given to her by that individual. In addition to this, she does not feel anything on any of her 5 senses. She does not touch, see, hear, smell, or taste anything, but she knows there is another in this space, another who does not have a self or a form.
Through short statements, she senses words from what she presumes is her Quori. "You are Veiyanitara. I know this". "I do not know who I am". "I am Quori"? "I know that woman, I fear that woman". "This is mine. I know this". "That woman gave it to me". "I am not of a self". "I give this, my map of stars, to you".
Vei accepts this star map but upon touching it is instantaneously jolted into her own conscious body, and wake up with a quick breath as if the wind had been knocked out of her.